US 12,331,838 B2
Flow path switching device
Junho Min, Seoul (KR); Sungbae Song, Seoul (KR); and Moonkee Chung, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Appl. No. 18/028,339
Filed by LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
PCT Filed Sep. 28, 2021, PCT No. PCT/KR2021/013253
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 24, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/071723, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0127166 (KR), filed on Sep. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0228336 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 11/076 (2006.01); F16K 11/00 (2006.01); F16K 11/085 (2006.01); F16K 27/00 (2006.01); F16K 31/04 (2006.01); F24F 11/84 (2018.01); F25B 25/00 (2006.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 11/076 (2013.01) [F16K 11/00 (2013.01); F16K 11/0856 (2013.01); F16K 27/003 (2013.01); F16K 31/041 (2013.01); F24F 11/84 (2018.01); F25B 25/005 (2013.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 13/00 (2013.01); F25B 2313/003 (2013.01); F25B 2313/007 (2013.01); F25B 2313/0233 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2507 (2013.01); Y02B 30/70 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flow path switching device comprising:
a case comprising a first nozzle into which fluid flows from an indoor unit, a second nozzle which sends fluid to the indoor unit, a plurality of inner outflow pipes through which fluid supplied from the first nozzle flows, a plurality of inner inflow pipes through which the fluid supplied to the second nozzle flows, and a flow path connection portion in which a space is formed to communicate the plurality of inner outflow pipes with the first nozzle or to communicate the plurality of inner inflow pipes with the second nozzle;
a valve which is rotatably disposed in the space of the flow path connection portion, and has a first chamber connecting one of the plurality of inner outflow pipes and the first nozzle according to disposition, and a second chamber connecting one of the plurality of inner inflow pipes and the second nozzle according to disposition; and
a motor which is disposed in one side of the valve, and rotates the valve,
wherein the plurality of inner outflow pipes and the plurality of inner inflow pipes are disposed in the same one side of the flow path connection portion and are spaced apart from each other in a direction in which a rotation shaft around which the valve rotates is formed.